In part 5 of our series Robert Burke and William Wills lead a small contingent of men from the supply depot at Cooper’s Creek and into the outback of Australia in an attempt to reach the Gulf of Carpentaria – and in the process become the first men to cross the continent. Meanwhile, William Wright will struggle to get the relief column from Menindee to Cooper’s Creek.

In part 4 of our series, Burke and Wills travel north to Cooper’s Creek, where they establish a supply depot. Burke will spend a month scouting the area, before finally departing for the north coast in mid-December. At Menindee, William Wright waits for money to buy more horses so he can haul all the supplies to Burke’s new camp. Meanwhile, a policeman, Trooper Myles Lyons, strikes out for Cooper’s Creek carrying dispatches for Burke.

In part 3 of our series, the Victorian Exploring Expedition travels from Melbourne to the frontier outpost of Menindee on the Darling River. Along the way, the VEE will undergo a transformation as many key members will be fired (or resign), and others will join the company. Meanwhile, Robert Burke must dodge an arrest notice, criticism and his own ego to move the VEE forward.

Nicholas Chevalier, “Memorandum of the Start of the Exploring Expedition”

In part 2 of our series, Robert Burke and the Exploration Committee hire men for the Victorian Exploring Expedition (VEE), including William Wills – who will serve the expedition’s surveyor, meteorologist, and astronomer. The VEE, consisting of 19 men, 26 camels, 23 horse, six wagons, and 200 tons of supplies, then prepares to depart Melbourne in August of 1860. The goal is to be the first men to cross the Australian continent.

People and Places

George Landells – Horse trader who brought 25 camels to Australia, and second-in-command of the VEE.

William Wills – British surveyor and astronomer who was named as third-in-command of the VEE.

Victoria Exploring Expedition (VEE) – The official name of the expedition led by Robert Burke to cross the Australian continent.

John McDouall Stuart – Scottish explorer who would be the chief competitor with the VEE to blaze a route across Australia.

Hermann Beckler – German doctor and botanist of the expedition.

Ludwig Becker – German. Expedition’s geologist and naturalist.

Captain Francis Cadell – Steamship owner and member of the Exploration Committee. Offered to take the company’s supplies by boat to Menindee.

Julia Matthews – 18 year old actress who Burke had fallen in love with.

Cooper’s Creek – River in central Australia. It is about halfway across the continent if someone is traveling between Melbourne and Gulf of Carpentaria in the north. About 750 miles from Melbourne.

Menindee – Most northerly outpost on the route of the VEE in their trek across Australia. About 400 miles from Melbourne.

Gulf of Carpentaria – The most direct route from Victoria to the northern coast of Australia – roughly a 1500 mile journey across the continent.

Maps

The map below includes the modern borders of of most of the states of Australia, however, in 1860, the interior borders were not yet established. Most of the settlements were on the coast of the continent – even in the most populated areas (in the south and east).

The first episode in the Burke and Wills Expedition series provides background to the endeavor – which was an expedition to cross Australia in 1860-61. We are introduced to the organizers of the expedition – Royal Society of Victoria – and its eventual leader, Robert Burke.

John McDouall Stuart – Scottish explorer who would be the chief competitor with the VEE to blaze a route across Australia.

Augustus Gregory – Explorer who had gone from Brisbane to Adelaide in 1858. He turned down the opportunity to lead the VEE, but recommended any expedition go to Cooper’s Creek and set up a depot – and use it as a base for striking out to the north.

Cooper’s Creek – River in central Australia. It is about halfway across the continent if someone is traveling between Melbourne and Gulf of Carpentaria in the north.

William Wills – British surveyor and astronomer who will eventually become the second-in-command of the VEE.

Maps

The map below includes the modern borders of of most of the states of Australia, however, in 1860, the interior borders were not yet established. Most of the settlements were on the coast of the continent – even in the most populated areas (in the south and east).

Between 400-600 BCE, Hanno the Navigator of Carthage, conducted an epic voyage down the west coast of Africa – sailing more than 4,000 miles – reaching all the way to modern-day Gabon. It is one of the earliest recorded voyages of discovery.